SINTOK, 12 April 2025: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) continues to uphold its reputation for excellence in the realm of higher education when it recorded an impressive Graduate Marketability (GM) rate of 96.6 percent in 2024, according to newly released data from the Ministry of Higher Education.
Based on data from the Graduate Tracking Study System (SKPG) by the Ministry of Education, UUM’s GM rate has shown a consistent upward trend over the recent years – 94.4 percent in 2022; 95 percent in 2023, and now 96.6 percent in 2024.
This achievement significantly surpasses the national target of 86.4 percent, reinforcing UUM’s position as a premier institution focused on management and business, and as a proven producer of high-quality graduates.
In addition, UUM has also recorded an outstanding graduate employment rate (GE) of 97.1 percent, based on the Ministry of Education’s updated operational definition.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Foad Sakdan stated that this success reflects the effectiveness of the university’s holistic approach to preparing students for today’s competitive job market.
He also expressed gratitude to industry partners for their continued confidence in the abilities and skills of UUM graduates.
According to him, this success is a testament to UUM’s commitment to an industry-oriented educational approach, that balances theoretical knowledge with practical skills, aligning with the current workforce demands.
“With this achievement, UUM not only reinforces its standing as an eminent management and business university, but also establishes itself as a top choice for students who seek a promising career path.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all staff, including UUM alumni, for their trust and the opportunities they have provided our graduates. These results show that our graduates remain competitive and capable of making significant contributions, despite the uncertain economic situation,” he said.
In a letter addressed to Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Foad, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education, Datuk Dr. Aneese Ibrahim, commended UUM on its outstanding performance.
“The Ministry would like to extend its congratulations to all UUM staff for this excellent achievement. We hope UUM will continue to maintain this excellence in the years ahead,” he said.
The letter also clarified the new operational definition for GE or graduate employment rate, which refers to the proportion of employed graduates out of the total number of graduates in the labour force. The labour market includes both employed and unemployed graduates.
For graduates outside the labour force, such as those pursuing further studies, undergoing skill enhancement programmes, awaiting job placements, or engaged in other activities – are excluded from the new GE calculation.
On the other hand, the Graduate Employability rate includes the status of graduates who are employed, continuing their studies, improving their skills, and waiting for job placements.
